95
Back to the start
We’ve already mentioned it but our
foil journey started with AHD’s
Carbon Shark: a 100% dedicated
foiling platform that when coupled
with the brand’s AFS-1 foil is set to
get riders flying in sub-10 knots.
Being honest it took us a while to
get familiar with. Conditions DO
play a massive part when learning.
Gusty winds and choppy sea states
don’t do anything to help the
cause. At the very beginning it’s
advisable to actually have some
wind in the mix (12 ish knots
steady side shore breeze being
ideal). Trying to learn the ropes in
uber light airs (sub 10 knots) is
actually quite technical and for a
while we were flummoxed. Fast
forward a few sessions and things
began to click and before long we
could claim success.
Kit swap
Swapping the Shark for AHD’s
Sealion Wings 7.6ft really opened
the foiling doors, however. Even
though on paper the 7.6ft is slightly
smaller, in terms of dimensions, it’s
a sled that’s elevated (pun
intended!) our foiling game no end.
& AFS-1 foil
surfer, wind foil and SUP foil) the
Sealion Wings 7.6ft has been, for
us at least, a complete game
changer. It’s the only windSUP
we’ve tried that performs as a wave
board should in surf with a sail
attached (see the Sealion Wings
7.6ft write up from WSUK issue
four) and it rips around the break in
SUP surf mode. (Stay tuned for
SUP foiling article coming in our
sister publication SUP Mag UK).
As a board alone the Sealion is a
unique shape. It’s pretty hard to
miss with that pronounced swallow
tail and twin 16cm fins protruding
from the underside. Add to the mix
its super comfy and colourful
deckpad, well positioned mast track
and cleverly shaped hull contours
and you have a board that’s
desirable without additional foil bits.
We’ve said it before but in our
opinion the Sealion range should be
WAY more popular in the UK than it
is. It’s a board that could/will save
many a session – especially if you
have waves in mind.
With its re-enforced AHD foil box,
100% carbon lay-up and multi-
sport diversity (wave windSUP, SUP
7’6 or 8’6 with Twin Fins £1579
This ain’t no review
Before we go on this article isn’t so
much an equipment review as a
‘these are our foil findings whilst
using the Sealion Wings 7.6ft’.
There’s a long way to go before we
consider ourselves experts. Instead
what we’re attempting to do here is
convey how things have been
during our time with this kit and
hopefully inspire other riders to get
involved with flying.
uk
WIND
SURFING